COVID-19 Positive Exposure

SF State remains committed to keeping our campus community members informed of confirmed COVID-19 cases. 

*updates as of January 9, 2024

Recommendations for people who test positive

  1. Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms, until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms​ are mild and improving.​

    • ​​If you do not have symptoms, you should follow the recommend​​ations below to reduce exposure to others.
  2. Mask when you are around other people indoors for the 10 days* after you become sick or test positive (if no symptoms). You may remove your mask sooner than 10 days if you have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart. Day 0 is symptom onset date or positive test date.
  3. Avoid contact with people at higher-risk for severe COVID-19 for 10 days*. Higher-risk individuals include the elderly, those who live in congregate care facilities, those who have immunocompromising conditions, and that put them at higher risk for serious illness.

  4. Seek Treatment​. If you have symptoms, particularly if you are at higher risk for severe COVID-19, speak with a healthcare provider as soon as you test positive. You may be eligible for antiviral medicines or other treatments for COVID-19. COVID-19 antiviral medicines work best if taken as soon as possible, and within 5-7 days from when symptoms start. 

    • ​​Call 1-833-422-4255 if you are unable to contact a healthcare provider, or use the treatment options to find one.​

*The potential infectious period is 2 days before the date of symptoms began or the positive test date (if no symptoms) through Day 10. (Day 0 is the symptom onset date or positive test date). 

Recommendation for close contacts of cases

  • If you have new COVID-19 symptoms, you should test and mask right away.
  • If you do not have symptoms, and are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection and would benefit from treatment, you should test within 5 days. 
  • If you do not have symptoms and have contact with people who are at higher risk for severe infection, you should mask indoors when around such people for 10 days. Consider testing within 5 days after the last exposure date (Day 0) and before contact with higher-risk people. For further details, see CDPH COVID-1​9 tes​​ting guidance​.​

The updated guidelines can be found on the CDPH website and the SFDPH website. 

The guidance outlined here does not apply to healthcare personnel (HCP) working at the Student Health Center. HCP must follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 as outlined in Student Health Center COVID 19 Isolation & Precautions Protocol.

 

Report work-related COVID-19 Case

Prevention Reminders

Even though our campus data currently indicates that over 98% of in-person students are vaccinated, let’s keep making it very hard for the virus to spread. There are prevention strategies that could limit the spread of COVID-19. 
 

Watch for Symptoms

For anyone who thinks they may have had a possible exposure, pay attention to possible symptoms for 14 days. If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, contact your health care provider and mention that you received this General Exposure Advisory. Students who do not have a health care provider may call Student Health Services at (415) 338-1251. If you live in San Francisco, you may also call 311 from within the city; (415) 701-2311 from outside SF; (415) 701-2323 (TTY) to find out where you can see a healthcare provider. 

Symptoms Include

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms can include tiredness, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of sense or taste or smell, or diarrhea. Symptoms usually begin about 5 days after exposure, but may appear as soon as 2 days or up to 14 days after exposure. Those over the age of 60 years and those with chronic medical conditions, such as heart, lung, or kidney disease, are especially vulnerable to the severest forms of COVID-19.

Information about COVID-19

The virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet for more than 15 minutes over a 24-hour period), and via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Close contact includes being coughed or sneezed on, kissing, sharing food, or eating.